1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election

After the de facto merger on 1 November 1954 and before the legal integration with the Indian Union on 16 August 1962, second general elections were held in August 1959 to constitute Second Pondicherry Representative Assembly.

Background

the Congress, with the support of independents, was able to form a Government after first elections in 1955. However, that government was not stable as the ruling party was ridden with personal strife and factions. The Government of India had to intervene finally by dissolving the Assembly and the Chief Commissioner took over the administration in October 1958. Later, after nine months, second general elections were held to the Pondicherry Representative Assembly in 1959 from 11 to 14 August.

Results

The results of 1959 election were summarized below:

Parties and Coalitions	Won	Votes	Vote %	Change
Indian National Congress	21	60,636	38.4	1
People's Front	13	49,505	31.6	1
Independents and others	5	47,162	30
TOTAL	39	1,57,030	100	N.A.

Another reference with some change in voteshare were summarized below:

Parties and Coalitions	Won	Votes	Vote %	Change
Indian National Congress	21	64,000	41.1	1
People's Front	13	53,800	34.3	1
Independents and others	5	38,600	24.6
TOTAL	39	1,57,000	100	N.A.

However, during 1963, the state of parties in the Representative Assembly was: Congress, 24; People's Front, 12; Praja Socialist Party, 1; Independents, 2.

Council of ministers of Reddiar (1959-1963)

Under supervision of then chief commissioner L.R.S Singh a Council of ministers was formed under leadership of V. Venkatasubba Reddiar: on 9 September 1959. President of the assembly that is equivalent to speaker was A. S. Gangeyan.

Minister	Portfolio
V. Venkatasubba Reddiar Chief minister	Public Works, Electrical, Fisheries and Port
Édouard Goubert	Finance, Labour and Industries
C. E. Barathan	Local Administration, Education and Transport
Gouroussamy Pillai Revenue minister	Revenue, Veterinary and Information
P. Shanmugam Agriculture minister	Agriculture, Rural Development and Harijan Welfare
Mohamed Ismail Maricar Health minister	Health, Hygiene and Co-operation

Council of ministers of Goubert (1963-1964)

The French settlements of India were de jure transferred on 16 August 1962. Pondicherry Representative Assembly functioned until June 30, 1963, and succeeded by Puducherry Legislative Assembly. The Indian Parliament enacted the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 that came into force on 1 July 1963, and the pattern of Government prevailing in the rest of the country was introduced in this territory also, but subject to certain limitations. Edouard Goubert became the chief minister in the subsequent Pondicherry Legislative Assembly.
In the First Legislative Assembly of Pondicherry, under supervision of then chief commissioner S.K. Datta a Council of ministers was formed under leadership of Édouard Goubert: on 1 July 1963. Speaker was A. S. Gangeyan.

Minister	Portfolio
Édouard Goubert Chief Minister	Confidential and Cabinet Department, Home Department, Appointments Department, General Administration Department Education Department, Legislative and Judicial Department, Industries Department, Finance Department and any other business not allocated to any other Minister
V. Venkatasubba Reddiar Development minister	Five Year Plans-Planning, Implementation and Evaluation, Public Works Department, Electricity, Fisheries, Port, Government Press and Statistics
Gouroussamy Pillai Revenue minister	Revenue Department, Animal Husbandry, Information and Publicity Department
Mohamed Ismail Maricar Health minister	Medical and Public Health Department, Co-operation and Town Planning
M.K.Zeevaratnam	Local Administration Department, Labour Department, Social, Child and Women's Welfare
V.M.C. Varada Pillay Agriculture minister	Agriculture, Community Development and Local Development Works

Trivia

In Yanam, for Kanakalapeta constituency, two independents secured exactly 707 votes each and so to decide the winner, lots were cast. Finally, Kamichetty Savithri was declared winner. In the same constituency, Congress candidate polled only 8 votes.